INDIANS WANT ARMS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22253, 22 April 1942, Page 5

INDIANS WANT ARMS

Determined To Resist Invasion

(Rec. 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, April 20. The firm determination of Indian workers to resist the Invasion of their country was Impressively shown at a meeting of workers, 50,000 strong, op Bombay beach on Monday, states ah Agency message.

Carrying huge banner® and flags ahd shouting slogans such as "Dqwn with the Japanese Fascists,” "Resist Invasion” and “Arm the People,” the workers went in processions through the city to the meeting place. Here big effigies of Hitler and Tojo were burnt amid enthusiastic scenes. At the meeting a demand was made by labour leaders that the Indian people should be armed at once.

Nehru’s Call to People “We want to convert ipqia into an armed eamp of the people who will continue to fight eVen if the army surrenders,” Said Mr Pandit Nehru, the Congress Leader, to a speech at Calcutta. "if India is to be defended properly it can be done only by a combination of two forces —State apparatus fdi* defence and the people of India. Non-co-operation with feritaln would be an Invitation for a Japanese invasion. In India it is absurd to call the wgr a people’s war. It is equally absurd to call It an Imperialistic war. It is ultimately for each country involved a war of survival. British power in India is shaky in the extreme and simply cannot survive. Almost a strong wind might blow it over.”